Chelsea have officially completed the signing of Portuguese midfielder Dário Essugo from Sporting Lisbon in a deal worth £18 million ($25 million), the club announced on Monday.
The 20-year-old spent last season on loan at Spanish side Las Palmas, making 28 appearances despite the club’s eventual relegation from La Liga. Essugo will be eligible to feature for the Blues in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup later this month.
A product of Sporting’s esteemed academy, Essugo made headlines in March 2021 when he became the youngest player to debut for the club’s first team at just 16 years old.
The deal for Essugo—along with that of teenage winger Geovany Quenda—was initially agreed in principle earlier this year. While Essugo joins immediately, Quenda will remain at Sporting until the end of the 2025/26 season before completing his move to Stamford Bridge for a reported £44 million.
Chelsea’s summer recruitment drive appears far from over, with the club also closing in on a £30 million move for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap.
The 21-year-old forward, who played a key role in Ipswich’s promotion to the Premier League, is expected to undergo a medical later this week.
AFP
